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First record of plastic debris in the stomach of Mediterranean lanternfishes

University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE) 2016 46 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 30 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, Cristina Pedà, Cristina Pedà, Pietro Battaglia, Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Cristina Pedà, Cristina Pedà, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, Franco Andaloro, Pietro Battaglia, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Franco Andaloro, María Cristina Fossi Cristina Pedà, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Franco Andaloro, Franco Andaloro, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Pietro Battaglia, Pietro Battaglia, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Pietro Battaglia, Franco Andaloro, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Pietro Battaglia, Pietro Battaglia, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Franco Andaloro, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi Franco Andaloro, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Franco Andaloro, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Pietro Battaglia, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi Franco Andaloro, María Cristina Fossi Franco Andaloro, María Cristina Fossi Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, Teresa Romeo, María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi María Cristina Fossi

Summary

For the first time, scientists found plastic debris in the stomachs of Mediterranean lanternfishes, small deep-sea fish that migrate vertically between depths every day. About 2.7-5.8% of individual fish had ingested plastic, raising concerns that these migratory species could transfer plastic pollutants from surface waters to deeper ecosystems and up the food chain to larger predators.

Body Systems

This study highlights for the first time the presence of plastic debris in the stomachs of Mediterranean lanternfishes (Myctophidae): Electrona risso, Diaphus metopoclampus, Hygophum benoiti and Myctophum punctatum. Samples were collected in the central Mediterranean Sea between 2010 and 2014. Plastics ingested belonged to small microplastics (0.2 - 2 mm), large microplastics (2 - 5 mm) and mesoplastics (5 - 25 mm), having mainly clear colors. Their frequency of occurrence in stomachs was equal to 2.7%, but it increases to 5.8% if only migratory species are considered. The higher number of plastics was found in E. risso and H. benoiti (5 in both species). The plastic ingestion may represent a risk for vertical migrant lanternfishes due to the increase in buoyancy. Ecotoxicological aspects linked to the potential effects of contaminants on lanternfish biology and to the transfer of pollutants throughout the marine trophic web up to top predators should be deepened.

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